Daijiworld Media Network - Nagarkurnool

Nagarkurnool, Feb 24: Over 24 hours after a section of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal project collapsed, rescue teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), continue efforts to reach eight workers trapped inside the tunnel. However, no response has been received from the missing workers so far.

The incident occurred on Saturday morning when a roof collapse trapped eight individuals, including two engineers, inside the 13.5 km-long tunnel. While 42 workers managed to escape, the remaining are feared to be stuck near the tunnel boring machine.

Rescue teams have reached up to the 13th km of the tunnel but face significant challenges in clearing debris composed of iron, muck, and cement blocks. Telangana Ministers N Uttam Kumar Reddy and J Krishna Rao have rushed to the site to monitor the situation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of all possible assistance from the Centre. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed concern, urging swift rescue efforts.

The collapsed section is part of a massive 44 km-long tunnel project designed to draw water from the Srisailam dam to irrigate four lakh acres in Nalgonda district. Authorities continue to expedite operations in a race against time to save the trapped workers.